Sheet handling apparatus for use in a reproduction machine



Oct. 29, 1968 c, GOODMAN ET AL 3,408,065

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Nov.14, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 8.

INVENTORS Robert C.Goodmon Emilio G. Mostroiunni ATTORNEY Get. 29, 1968c, GOODMAN ETAL 3,408,065

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Nov.14, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Robert C. Goodman Emilio G.Mostroiunni ATTORNEY Oct, 29, 1968 R. c. GOODMAN ETAL 3,408,065

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Filed Nov.14, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Robeyt C. Goodman -Emilao G.Mostroiunni ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,408,065 SHEET HANDLINGAPPARATUS FOR USE IN A REPRODUCTION MACHINE Robert C. Goodman,Binghamton, and Emilio G.

Mastroianni, Endicott, N .Y., assignors to GAF Corporatiou, acorporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 594,202 9 Claims.(Cl. 271-64) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates tosheet handling apparatus for use in reproduction machine of the typeadapted to reproduce indicia carried by an original sheet on a copysheet, while the sheets are passed through the machine in a superimposedrelationship. Specifically, the handling apparatus includes improvedvacuum operated means to effect separation of the superimposed sheetsafter such sheets have been passed through an exposure station of themachine and means adapted to insure proper transfer of the superimposedsheets from the exposure station to the sheet separating means.

The present invention has particular utility for use in reproductionmachines of the type through which an original sheet and copy sheet arepassed in a continuous feeding operation; the sheets being initially fedin superimposed relationship through an exposure station after which thesheets are separated to permit the copy sheet to be passed through adevelopment station and the original sheet to be immediately dischargedfrom the machine.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to employ in reproduction machines ofthe general type under consideration sheet separators which operate on avacuum principle. In their simpliest form, sheet separators of the priorart comprise a pair of rotatably supported drums having peripheralapertured surfaces adapted to define a nip through which superimposedoriginal and copy sheets are adapted to be passed. A pump is employed tocreate a reduced pressure within the drums, whereby upon passage of thesheets through the nip, the respective sheets are drawn into engagementwith the apertured surface of each drum and the sheets separated. Suchdevices are conventionally provided with stationary means adapted toshield or cover the apertured surface of the drum except through an arcof the drum surface adjacent the nip. It has also been proposed toprovide sheet separators in the form of stationary vacuum chambershaving facing ap-ertured surfaces between which superimposed sheets areadapted to be conveyed by suitable means, such as conveyor belts. Vacuumseparators of the type described have been found to be not onlyinefficient in operation but to create a noise level which is foundobjectionable in many machine installations.

Further, in prior reproduction machines various means have been employedto effect separation of the original and copy sheets from an exposurestation and effect orderly transfer of such sheets to a sheet separator.However, in machines of this nature, the means employed are complex instructure and operation, and thus are not only expensive but diificultto repair in the event of wear or breakage thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome thedisadvantages of prior sheet handling ap paratus used in reproductionmachines.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide vacuumoperated means to separate original and copy sheets, which means arecharacterized by an improved operating efficiency and a low operatingnoise level.

3,408,065 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 "ice A still further object of thepresent invention is to provide in a reproduction machine improved sheethandling apparatus including improved means adapted to insure propertransfer of original and copy sheets from an exposure station to a sheetseparator.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reproduction machine of the presentinvention showing portions of machine cabinet broken away;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view line 4--4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view line 77 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view line 88 in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designatelike or corresponding elements throughout the several views and whereina preferred embodiment is illustrated, there is shown in FIG. 1 areproduction machine generally designated as reference numeral 1 inwhich the present invention is adapted for use.

As shown an original sheet 2 and a copy sheet 3 are adapted to beassembled in superimposed relationship and fed by an operator into themachine through an inlet opening 4. Thereafter, the sheets areautomatically fed continuously through an exposure station, generallyindicated by reference numeral as 5, and then through a separator,generally indicated by reference numeral 6. After separation of thesheets, the original sheet is discharged from the machine through anoutlet opening 7 and the copy sheet is passed to a development station,not shown, and thereafter discharged from the machine through an outletopening 8. The exposure station 5, which forms no part of the presentinvention, normally includes a rotatably supported glass drum 9 having amercury light source, not shown, disposed therein. It will be apparentthat when the sheets are presented to the surface of drum 9, asindicated in FIG. 2, the chemically treated or sensitized surface of thecopy sheet is exposed to ultra violet rays passing from the light sourcethrough the original sheet in a manner well understood in the art.

At this point, it will be understood that the sheet handling apparatusof the present invention includes an improved sheet separator 6 andimproved means, generally indicated as reference numeral 10, adapted totransfer the superimposed sheets from exposure station 5 to theseparator.

The sheet transfer means 10 is shown in FIG. 2 as including a separatorassembly 11 and a conveyor 12. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, conveyor 12 is in the form of a plurality of spacedapart endless belts 13, which are adapted to be driven in the directionindicated by arrow 14 by one or more drive rollers 15, and which passfrom machine inlet 4, about the exposure drum 9, through separator 6,and thereafter return to inlet 4 through the development station, notshown. However, it will be understood that conveyor 12 may be of anyother desired construction and may be limited in along the takengenerally along the taken generally along the taken generally along thetaken generally along the taken generally along the taken generallyalong the employment to assisting transfer of the superimposed sheetsfrom drum 9 to separator 6.

The separator assembly 11 is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 7 ascomprising a supporting shaft 16 having a plurality of spacedcircumferentially extending grooves 17; a plurality of resilient plasticseparator plates 18 which are adapted to be rotatably supported on shaft16 within grooves 17; and springs 19 which normally tend to pivot plates18 about the axis of shaft 16 in the direction indicated by arrow 20.

Shaft 16 is adapted to be supported in a spaced parallel relationshipwith respect to the axis of drum 9 by flanges 21, only one being shownin FIG. 2 which may be aflixed as by welding to extrusion 22. Extrusion22 may be mounted on machine side plates 23, 24 in any suitable manner,not shown.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 7, it will be seen that plates 18 are ofrelatively thin construction and have a sharp edge portion 25 defined byconcave end edge portion 26 and side edge portion 27 of the plate. Itwill be apparent that with plates 18 mounted on shaft 16 in the mannermore clearly hereinafter described, sharp edge 25 is disposed parallelto the axis of drum 9 and in slidable engagement with the peripheralsurface thereof.

Plate side edge portion 27 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 as being providedwith a curved recessed opening 28, which is described by a circle whoseradius is slightly greater than the radium of the grooved portion ofshaft 16 and whose center is disposed slightly inwardly from side edge27. It will be apparent that by positioning the center of opening 28 inthe manner described there is formed along the side edge portion 27 apair of inwardly directed portions 29 and 30, which due to the resilientnature of the plates, are adapted to snap over and thereafter serve toretain shaft 16 within opening 28. Further, it will be apparent thatwhen plates 18 are positioned within grooves 17, the side edges 31 ofthe grooves tend to prevent tilting of plates 18 with respect to theaxis of shaft 16, whereby the plates are constrained to pivotably motionin parallel planes about shaft 16 and sharp edge 25 is maintained inline contact with the peripheral surface of drum 9.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 7, it will be seen that springs 19 areprovided one for each pair of adjacent plates 18. Spring 19 is of agenerally U-shaped design 'having a base portion 32 and leg portions 33which are coiled about shaft 16 as at 34. The free ends of spring legportion 33 are shown in FIG. 7 as being deformed as at 35 and as beingremovably received within slot cut-outs 36 provided in side edge portion37 of plate 18. By viewing FIG. 2 it will be understood that whendeformed end 35 is snapped into plate cut-out 36, the spring istensioned whereby forcing spring base portion 32 into engagement withextrusion 22 and sharp edge 25 into engagement with the surface of drum9.

By constructing plates 18 of inexpensive plastic manufacture in themanner described, several desirable results are obtained. First, adesired amount of pressure may be employed to maintain the sharp edges25 of plates 18 in engagement with drum 9 without undesired abrasion ofthe surface thereof. Also, when the sharp edge of any one plate becomesdull or broken, the plate may be quickly and easily removed and a newplate snapped onto shaft 16 without disturbing the remaining plates ofthe assembly. Further, due to their low initial unit cost it has beenfound practical to merely discard worn plates rather than attempt toregrind the plates to reproduce the sharp edge portion thereof.

Separator 6 is shown in FIG. 2 as including first and second vacuumchambers or tanks 37 and 38 having facing apertured walls 39 and 40,respectively. Chambers 37 and 38 are connected to a third chamber 41 byconduits 42 and 43, respectively (FIG. 1). Preferably, chamber 41 isdisposed within the supporting base of machine 1 and formed at least inpart by the side 44 and end 45 walls of the machine. Air may be removedfrom chamber 41 and thus from chambers 37 and 38 by suitable means, suchas a compressor 46. It will be understood that at least conduit 42 isprovided with an air fiow control valve 47, by which an operator of themachine may selectively control the rat-i0 of pressures existing withinchambers 37, 38 for the reason hereinafter discussed.

In FIG. 2 apertured walls 39 and 40 are shown as being spaced apart andas cooperating to define a vertically extending passageway having aninlet end 48 and outlet end 49. It will be apparent that the portions ofthe apertured walls 39 and 40 which define a lower portion 50 of thepassageway extending from inlet 48 to an intermediate point, indicatedby dotted line 51 in FIG. 2, are substantially parallel. Thereafter, thespacing between apertured walls 39 and 40 progressively inceases towardoutlet 49 to define an upper passageway portion 52.

Received within the passageway for movement in sliding surfaceengagement with apertured walls 39 and 40 are respective endless belts13 and 53. As indicated in FIGS. 3 through 6, belts 13 and 53 areequally spaced across the apertured walls and overlie one another dur--ing upward movement through the passageway. Belts 53 are shown as beingof perforated or open weave construction so as to freely permit thepassage of air therethrough, and as being driven in the directionindicated by arrow 54, as by a drive roller 55.

Now referring to FIGS. 2 through 6, it will be seen that apertured walls39 and 40 are provided with spaced relatively offset slot openings 56and 57, respectively, which extend vertically between points adjacentthe inlet and outlet ends 48 and 49 of the passageway. In FIGS. 5 and 6slot openings 56 are shown as being of uniform width along the lengththereof and as being disposed in the vertically extending space definedby adjacent belts 13, and slot openings 57 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 asbeing contoured and as being disposed in an underlying relationship tobelts 53. It will be apparent that when the pressure within chambers 37and 38 is reduced and the superimposed original and copy sheets arepassed upwardly through the passageway between belts 13 and 53 in themanner to be described, air is drawn inwardly through slots 57 and belts53 thereby tending to draw original 2 into engagement with belts 53, andair is drawn inwardly through slots 56 thereby tending to draw copysheet 3 into engagement with adjacently disposed pairs of belts 13.

In FIG. 3 contoured slot openings 57 are shown as having relatively widemid portions 58 which extend above. and below the intermediate point 51of the passageway. It will be seen that mid portion 58 gradually tapersinto relatively narrow upper slot portion 59 and abruptly changes as at60 into a relatively narrow lower slot portion 61.

Chambers 37 and 38 are provided with corrugated baffles 62 and 63 whichare affixed in any suitable manner, not shown, to the inwardly facingsurfaces 64 and 65 of apertured walls 39 and 40, respectively. Baffles62 and 63 cooperate with surfaces 64 and 65 to define a plurality ofvertically extending channels 66 and 67 provided one for each of slotopenings 56 and 57, respectively. Channels 66 and 67 are shown in FIG. 2as being closed at their upper ends 68 and as being in fluidcommunication with the interior of chambers 37 and 38 at their lowerends 69. Further, as will be apparent from viewing FIG. 2, thecross-sectional area of each of the channels is substantially constantfrom closed upper end 68 to passageway intermediate point 51, and isprogressively increased from intermediate point 51, to open lower end69. By arranging channels 66 and 67 in the manner described, it will beapparent that air drawn inwardly through slot openings 56 and 57 isforced to travel downwardly through the channels adjacent wall surfaces64 and 65, thereby tending to create reduced static pressure adjacentsuch surfaces. It has been found that the reduced static pressure thusproduced augments the reduced pressure created within chambers 37 and 38by compressor 46, thereby permitting a compressor of relatively smallerdisplacement to be employed in the machine. Further, it has been foundthat a smaller mass flow of air is required to effect separation of thesheets, thereby permitting the operating noise level of the separator tobe considerably reduced over that of separators presently available.

Suitable means, such as L-shaped reciprocably mounted extrusions shownin phantom line as 70 in FIG. 2, may be employed at one or both sides ofeach of chambers 37 and 38 to selectively close off one or more ofchannels 66 and 67 and the lower ends of slot openings 56 and 57. Thisis a particularly desirable feature of the present invention, since itpermits an operator of the machine to selectively seal 01? portions ofthe apertured walls of 39 and 40; when an original sheet having a widthless than that of the walls it is desired to be reproduced. Sealing ofthe aperture walls in this matter reduces the noise level of the machineand permits compressor 46 to run at a lower operating speed.

The operation of the sheet handling apparatus of the present inventionmay be best described with reference to the overall operation ofmachine 1. Prior to initiating a reproduction operation an operatorfirst energizes a suitable electrical control circuit, not shown,whereupon compressor 46 is operated to withdraw air from chambers 37, 38and 41; rollers and 55 are powered to drive belts 13 and 53 in thedirections indicated by arrows 14 and 54, respectively; and the lightsource within drum 9 is energized. Thereafter, the operator may seal offportions of the apertured walls 39 and 40 by moving L- shaped extrusions70 in accordance with the width of the original sheets to be reproduced.The operator may also at this time adjust flow valve 47 to adjust theratio of pressures present within chambers 37 and 38. In most instancesit has been found that a higher degree of vacuum must be maintained inchamber 38 than in chamber 37 since the original sheet has generallybeen used on several occasions and thus has been creased and bent.Additionally, the increased vacuum in chamber 38 is necessary inasmuchas the path of the original sheet is changed when leaving the outlet 49of the passageway, whereas the path of the copy sheet is straight. Ithas also been found that when the original sheet is formed from aplastic material such as Mylar a higher degree of vacuum must bemaintained within the chamber 38 to achieve effective separation of thesheets, than would be necessary if the orginal sheet is formed ofvellum.

The machine is now ready for the reproduction operation. The operatorthen assembles the original sheet and the copy sheet in a superimposedrelationship and feeds the sheets into the machine through opening 4 andonto the conveyor belts 13. The superimposed sheets are thereafterpresented to the surface of drum 9 by belts 13 and the sensitizedsurface of the copy sheet 3 is exposed to the ultra violet rays passingfrom the exposure station light source outwardly through the wall ofdrum 9 and through the original sheet 2. It has been found in practicethat the conditions to which the superimposed sheets are exposed inpassing over drum 9 tends to temporarily adhere the original sheet tothe sensitized surface of the copy sheet and tends to produce a curl inthe sheets corresponding to the curved surface of the drum. Thus, uponcontinued movement of belts 13 the leading edge portion of thesuperimposed sheets, separates from the belts adjacent the upper portionof drum 9 as viewed in FIG. 2 and is thereafter peeled from the surfaceof drum 9 by the sharp edge portions of plates 18. After separation fromtthe drum 9, the leading edge portion of the superimposed sheets isguided upwardly by concave and edge surfaces 26 of plates 18 towardspassageway inlet 48 and between belts 13 and 53. Upon passing the upperend of edge guide 26, as viewed in FIG. 2, an upwardly moving aircurrent produced by air being drawn into the lower end portions of slotopenings 56 and 57 draws the leading edge portion of the superimposedsheets upwardly between belts 13 and 53 whereby the immediatelyfollowing portions of the superimposed sheets are drawn into engagementwith belts 13.

As the leading end portion of the superimposed sheets moves upwardlythrough the passageway, air is continuously drawn through slot openings56 and 57 over the leading edges of sheets 2 and 3 at relatively offsetpoints spaced transversely of the apertured walls of the chambers,thereby tending to peel apart the leading edges of the sheets. Due tothe progressively decreased cross-sectional size of channels 66 and 67in the direction of sheet movement, the velocity of the air flowingdownwardly through the channels is progressively increased, therebyproducing a corresponding increase in the degree of suction exerted onboth the original and copy sheets. Normally, the leading edges of thesheets are separated immediately after passing the abrupt change incontour, as indicated at 60, of slot openings 57, due to the maximumsuction effect produced in the area defined by the relatively wide midportion 58 of such openings. After separation of the sheets, the copyand original sheets are drawn into the surface engagement with belts 13and 53, respectively, and thereafter are positively conveyed by thebelts upwardly through passageway outlet 49. Belts 13 may be employed toconvey the separated copy sheet through a development station, notshown. The original sheet may be separated from belts 53 during passageover drive roller 55 by any suitable means, not shown, and thereafterpassed through machine outlet 7.

It should be understood that the foregoing relates to only a preferredembodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changesand modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for thepurposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from thespirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. An improved paper separating apparatus for use in a reproductionmachine having an exposure station including a rotatable drum over whichan original sheet and a copy sheet are passed in superimposedrelationship, said handling apparatus including means to separate saidsuperimposed sheets passed from said drum, said separating meanscomprising:

first and second chambers, said chambers being spaced apart and havingfacing apertured walls adapted to define a passageway between saidchambers having an inlet and outlet;

pressure reducing means adapted to apply reduced pressure within saidchamber;

conveyor means associated with each of said chambers and adapted to bemoved within said passageway from said inlet towards said outlet, theimprovement comprising a baffle means disposed in at least said secondchamber adjacent the inward surface of said apertured wall, said baffiemeans defining with said inward surface at least one channel adapted toconduct air into said chamber through said apertured wall such that theair flowing in said channel is in a direction opposite to the path ofmovement of said conveyor means through said passageway.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spacing betweensaid apertured Walls from a point adjacent said inlet to an intermediatepoint of said passageway is substantially constant and from saidintermediate point to a point adjacent said outlet of said passageway isprogressively increased, and the cross-sectional area of said channel isprogressively increased from adjacent said intermediate point in saiddirection of air flow.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the apertures of saidwall of said second chamber are in the form of spaced slots extendingbetween points adjacent said inlet and outlet of said passageway and achannel is provided one for each of said slots.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein each of said slots hasa relatively narrow portion adjacent said inlet and a relatively wideportion adjacent an intermediate point of said passageway, and saidslots abruptly increase in width adjacent said intermediate point.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein means are provided toselectively prevent flow of air through at least one of said channels.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure reducing meanscomprises:

a third chamber, said third chamber forming in part the base of saidreproduction machine;

conduit means adapted to connect said first and second chambers to saidthird chamber; and

compressor means adapted to withdraw air from said third chamber.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said conduit means havevalve means adapted to selectively control the ratio of pressures withinsaid first and second chambers.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handling apparatusadditionally includes means to transfer said superimposed sheets fromsaid drum to said separating means, said transfer means including aseparator assembly which comprises in combination:

a supporting shaft aligned with the axis of said drum;

a. plurality of plate members individually mounted on said shaft forpivotable movement in spaced parallel planes disposed normal to saiddrum axis, each of said plates having a sharp edge portion aligned withsaid drum axis and defined by meeting side and end edge portions of saidplate, said end edge portion forming a convex guide surface for saidsuperimposed sheets; and

spring means, said spring means being adapted to normally bias saidsharp edge portion into engagement with the peripheral surface of saiddrum.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said plates are formedfrom a resilient plastic material, said shaft is provided with aplurality of spaced apart circumferentially extending grooves each ofwhich is adapted to receive one of said plates, the radially extendingwalls of said grooves being adapted to maintain said plates in spacedapart relationship, and said side edge portion is provided with a curvedrecessed opening adapted to rotatably receive said shaft and inwardlydirected portions adjacent said recessed opening, the spacing betweensaid inwardly directed portions being less than the diameter of thegrooved portions of said shaft, whereby when said plates are mountedwithin said grooves of said shaft, said inwardly directed portions areadapted to resiliently maintain said shaft within said recessed opening.

8/1961 Germany. 4/1962 France.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

